Friday, February 06, 2009

Finish the Sentence...with Neil van Niekerk

[cue the very repetitive game show music]"It's time once again to ask a well-known photographer, instructor or otherwise interesting person the same 10 questions and ask them to Finish the Sentence! This week the sentences are finished by.... Neil van Niekerk.

Neil, please Finish the Sentence..."

My favorite photography accessory (lights, modifier, bag, tripod) isa speedlight. In fact, it is so essential to photography I wouldn't even call it an accessory. So can I say instead that a battery pack for my speedlight is my favourite accessory?

I’ve learned the most from..devouring books and magazines and websites. Which really means that I learnt the most from other photographers.

If I could go anywhere in the world it would be_____ because….a leisurely road trip through Italy. The romantic in me is drawn to the incredibly beautiful photos and movies I've seen of Italy. It is a country and people that seems endlessly interesting.

My most-used Photoshop add-on, plugin, action set (etc) isThe Totally Rad actions by Doug Boutwell. I use actions sparingly, but when I dip into them, it is most often these action sets.

I love the fact that Photoshoptakes a lifetime to master. There is always something new to be learnt and discovered.

I hate the fact that Photoshoptakes a lifetime to master. It's incredibly complex , and I don't see the top of this hill yet.

If I could turn back the clock 10 yearsI'd be more careful, but I'd also be more bold. With hindsight I'd avoid the many mistakes I've made in my life .. but also more fearlessly attempt things which would bring success and happiness. But that's life lived in hindsight. I look forward to the future.

In 10 yearsI still want to be a photographer, but with greater skill and passion undimmed.

If I could give one piece of advice it would beto read voraciously, take it all in, and make it your own.

Ladies, Gentlemen, let's hear it for Neil van Niekerk![much applause and whistling as the music fades out]

Neil van Niekerk is a wedding and portrait photographer based in northern New Jersey. He also maintains a website - planetneil - described by Rangefinder Magazine as: “an unusual and informative web site dedicated to digital imaging.”

Neil is one of the most generous and talented photographers anywhere. He provides reams of great information on his blog. His straight forward advice is easy to understand and implement. He is one of the titans of the photography bloggers and one of the finest teachers in the world.